by Glenn Magas

Created on: September 16, 2009   Last Updated: March 11, 2011

Are you part of the social network generation? If you belong to the listed websites, you contribut to the growing online community, also made even more popular with the Academy Award Winning Film, The Social Network. Here are Top 5 social networking websites (and a couple of bonus sites) that you might want to be aware of.

These websites are used to build online groups of people who share similar interests. It is a new, and popular, way to communicate and share information. Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people across the world.

The top 5 social networking websites, based on visits per month, as of August 2009 are:

#1. Facebook
#2. MySpace
#3. Twitter
#4. Linkedin
#5. Tagged

#1. Facebook (http://www.facebook.com)
2.2 billion visits/August 2009

After 5 years of being second fiddle to MySpace, Facebook finally passed MySpace to be the largest social network on the web in April 2008. They have over 300 million active users world-wide. Facebook was originally developed for the high school and college demographic but the fastest current growing demographic are those 35 years or older.

#2. MySpace (http://www.myspace.com)
666 million visits/August 2009

In 2006, MySpace was the no. 1 social network on the web with 100 million users. Today, they still boast approximately 200 million active users which makes MySpace second on the list of top 5. At one time, MySpace was signing up 500 thousand new users a week. MySpace still dominates Facebook in the U.S. Market but is expected to be surpassed by Facebook in the year 2012.

#3. Twitter (http://www.twitter.com)
149 million visits/August 2009

Twitter is unique compared to the two above it. It is a micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Since its creation in 2006, it has gained popularity worldwide - especially due to the publicity that athletes and actors give it as a utility to update fans with their current status. The growth of Twitter is incredible, however, only 40 percent of Twitter's users are retained.

#4. Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com)
54 million visits/August 2009

Linkedin's focus is more of a professional networking website versus a social networking website. It is the oldest networking site of the top 5. It's humble beginnings started in 2003 and it was catered to 'adults' versus the viral marketing campaigns to draw teenagers and college students to Facebook and Myspace. Linkedin appeals to the professionals between 25-65 years of age.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>